Hot-air heater



(NoModel.)

W. HBKERT. HOT AIR HEATER.

No. 526,316. Patented Sept. 18, 18944'.

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UNITED STATESN PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IIECKEET, oF EINDLAY, AssIeNoRoE CNE-HALE 'ro BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTII, 0E CINCINNATI, oHIo.

HOT-Ala HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 526,316, dated 'September 18, 1894.

Application iiled March 2, 1893. Serial No. 464,397. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.- l

Be it known that i, WILLIAM HECKER'I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hot-Air Heaters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled` in the `art to which' it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hot air heaters. In an application led February l, 1893, Serial No. 460,527, I have shown and described a method and apparat us for heating hot Water and steam, in which the principle involved is I the same as in the present case, and hence the broad matter of invention covered by said case is not intended to beclaimed herein, but the present application is designed to cover certain improved features of constructionand combinations of parts comprising a heater or stove ofpeculiar construction operating upon the same principle as that disclosed in the heating apparatus described and shown inA the aforesaid application. As stated in said prior application, it 'has been lthe common practice heretofore to place the fire-box or combustion chamber under the boiler, or as low as possible so asto cause the heat to act first upon the coldest stratum of Water and permit the residue to pass off at a point. Where the temperature in the boiler is high- I est, that is, the point where the steam is located, and therefore at a higher temperature than that of the steam, the residueofheat being thus permitted to leave off its work at a point 'where it is most needed in order to` intensify the heat of the steam and thus increase its pressure. greater portion of the heat, instead of being put to useful work, is wasted.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved hot air heater embodying the same principle or mode of operation as that involved in the boiler construetion shown in my aforesaid application, so as to prevent any undue Waste of heat and fuel,

`and to provide for the utilization of the heat developed to the fullest extent and to better advantage than is possible with heaters of The result is that thel the usual construction. It will be understood,'of course, that this principle may be applied in a number of ways without adhering to any special form of apparatus, and hence I do not desire to be limited tothe exact construction v andarrangement of parts `shown and described, as the same may be varied in a number of wayswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention will first be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and then particularly'pointed out in the claims at the end of this description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a verticalsectional'elevation of an apparatus ernbodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 isa detail sectional view of the draft regulator which I preferably eml ploy in practicing my invention.

Similar letters of reference are used to de- I note similar parts in each of the several views.

The letter A denotes the heater as a Whole;

(It may consist essentially of end plates or ,1 framepiecesA, A', and side plates or frame pieces A2, A2, forming when properly congnected, a-box-like structure or casing with lopen top and bottom and having mounted thereon semi-circular cover or top com posed of i segmental plates or frame pieces A3, A3, which rest upon the side plates A2, A2; the said parts `being connected or bolted togetherby bolts .passing through flanges a, or in any proper manner.` The end' pieces A', may extend above the side pieces A2, and have their upper Iflanged ends rounded and bolted to similar `flanges on the outer'edges or ends of the segmental ,plates A2, so as to close the semi-circular openings at the ends of the frame above Isaid side pieces. The end pieces A', may also tbe cast integrally with return portions or pipe ends a', to receive the ends of common stove `the heat iiues connecting-with the fire-box 0, land extendingtherefrom downwardly -in a zig-zag course to the outlet b, which may connect with a smoke stack or chimney.

D, D', D2, denote horizontal` partitions or baiiie-plates, which extend alternately from `pipe or other tubular sections B, which form opposite ends of the framepieces A', and terminate a suitable distance from the inner face of the opposite plate to provide an opening at such point for the passage of air, so as to form a zig-zag course or flue for the introduction of air to the air space E, surrounding the tire-box or combustion chamber.

e, e, denote air inlets at the base of the structure communicating with the space between the heat ilues B, B, for the admission of air to be heated, and also to support combustion. The heat flues B, B, may be arranged in tiers as shown, and may consist of any desired number, with intervening battleplates between each horizontal series or row of fines; the baffle-plates being extended alternately only partially across the space within the heater so as to cause the air moving upward in contact with the pipes or lheat I'lues to take a zig-zag upward course to the air chamber E. The heat flues are thus completely surrounded and enveloped by a volume of air within the space surrounding said iiues, so that the residue of heat and volatile products of combustion issuing from the combustion chamber and passing through said heat tlues shall impart heat to the column or columns of air surrounding said iiues, and being thus gradually deprived of heat in moving from a point at which the air is hottest through successively reduced temperatures to a point of minimum temperature, may pass into and out of the stack in a cold condition.

e', denotes the air outlets for the heated air issuing from the air space E. The tire-box C, may consist of a hollow casting having an arched portion c, with partially closed end c', and base plate c2, integral therewith; said arched portion being placed above the heat tlues so as to provide a semi-circular air space partially surrounding the lire-box'. The casting C, communicates at one end with the air space E, and is provided with a door F, below the air inlet, opening` into the ash pit, and at the opposite end with an opening leading to the upper heat tlues. Within the hre-box is placed a grate C', above the base plate c2, which latter forms the bottom of the ash pit, access to which may be had through the door F. The portions of the base plate which project at either side of the arch C, may be reticulated or cast with openings therethrough to permit the air to pass upward into the air space E.

G, denotes an air tube extending through `the lire-box, and having its open end in communication with the air space E', at the side or end of the heater; said open end of the air tube being controlled by a conical valve H, which regulates thev admission of air to said tube.

I, denotes a gas pipe extending through the air tube and provided with a series of gasjets or-injectors t', z', for supplying commingled gas and air to the combustion chamber. The

valve H, is adapted to slide longitudinally along the gas tube I, upon which it is fitted for the purpose of varying the size of theY air inlet end of the tube G.

g', denotes openings in the air tube G, fo the escape of air therefrom. "r

l', denotes a stop-cock or valve controlling the supply of gas to the pipe l.

In order to automatically regulate the air and gas supply I provide a thermostatic regulating device which may be constructed as followsz-K, (Figs. l and 3) denotes an exteriorly screw-threaded tube projecting through an interiorly screw-threadedtube 7c, into the fire-box, and having its lower end sealed by welding or otherwise. The upper end of the tube K, is secured to a thin steel or other suitable plate or disk K', upon which is fitted a second plate or disk K2, the two disks being slightly separated and rigidly connected at their peripheries in any proper manner, so as to form an expansible steam-tight diaphragmatic chamber. The upper disk K2, has secured thereto a corresponding exteriorly threaded tube L, at the upper end of which is a cup Z, having a valve Z', seated. therein, to prevent the escape ot' fluid under ordinary pressure, but so as to permit the tubes to be filled with water and properly closed. The two tubular sections K, L, have threads of the same pitch and on the upper section L, is tted a traveling nut m, which is pivotally connected to the short arm of a bellcrank M, the long arm of which is pivoted to a nut or projection on the outer end or stem of the valve H. By this means, when the tubes K, L, are rotated, (the disks K', K2, being adapted to serve as a milled wheel for this purpose) the lower end of the tube K, will be projected to a greater or less extent within or withdrawn from the fire-box, according to the direction of rotation, and at the same time the valve H, will be moved in or out so as to increase or diminish the size of the air inlet g, thus mechanically adjusting and varying the size of the air inlet. O, denotes a rod connecting the bell-crank M, with an arm o, secured to the stem of the cock or valve I', so that when the bell-crank is rocked upon its pivot said Valve will be opened or closed according to the direction ot' motion. lBy these means, when the tubes K, L, are adjusted by rotating the disks or diaphragms K', K2, the valves H, and I',Wil1 be simultaneously opened or closed to a greater or less extent according to the direc, tion of rotation, while the lower end of the tube K, will be projected into or withdrawn from the tire-box to a greater or less extent for the purpose of exposing a greater or less portion of said tube to the heat within the lire-box. It is apparent that as said tube is lled with water steam will be formed so as to expand the diaphragms and cause the short IOO IIO

and contraction, and thereby automatically regulate the supply of air and gas, so as to reduce the reiand temperature of the air in thefurnace when the heat is too great, and vice versa. It is also apparent that the greater the length of tube exposed within` the rebox, the more quickly will steam 'be formed and the supply of fuel cut oft', so as to lower the temperature of the air within the furnace, and that the reverse movement of said tube, by decreasing the exposed surface, will requiremore fire and heat to generate steam and consequently maintain a higher temperature of air within the furnace.

The automatic temperature regulating device is not claimed herein asa part of my present invention, but will form the subjectmatter of a separate application. 1

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings. The cold air entering at the base of the heater through the inlets e, e, and moving in the direction of the arrows 1, Fig. 1, passes the horizontal partition or baiile-plate D, above the lower flue or fines at the open end d, of

said plate, and then along the next tube or series of tubes and the partition D', past the open end d', thereof, and so on until it finally reaches the air space E, over the fire-box, communicating,r with the air space E at the end of said box. Air from the space E', may enter the air tube or tubes G, for supporting combustion. The heated air may pass from the chamber E, through outlets e', into the the building or apartment to be heated, or into suitable conduits as may be desired. The current of cold air is thus (in its course from the base of the heater to the hot air space at the top thereof) gradually heated as it ascends, by contact with the heat iues between the successive horizontal partitions or baffle-plates, and at each upward move or step reaches a point of higher temperature until it finally enters the air space E, which is the point of highest temperature about the tire-box and which it enters in a highly heated condition. The heat of the fire-box is thus applied directly to the hottest` part of the super-heated air, and gives o heat of the highest temperature at the point where it is most needed. From this point the residue of heat and volatile products of combustion pass downward, as indicated by the arrows 2, through the heat dues and the volume or body of air moving upward in the space or spaces surrounding said flues, gradually imparting heat to the ascending current of air at each descending step. The column or columns of heat and volatile products of combustion being thus caused to move downward in an opposite direction to the ascending enveloping column or columns of air, is caused to meet colder air at each lower turn or step, so that its volume is gradually contracted and its specitic gravity correspondingly increased in its downward movement, so as to bring about those conditions which permit the heat to pass from a higher to a lower temperature until all the connect the stop-cock nected to the thermostatic regulator. also be desirable in some cases to form the `hollow rods or tubes K, L,

y Letters Patent of the heat is` expended. On the other handtlie ascending current of air, in receiving the heat from the heat iues, is gradually heated and expended, and rises through gradually increasing temperatures until the highest point l of heat to the hottest part of the super-heated air. It may be desirable in some cases to dis- I, from the bell-crank lever and regulate the supply of gas by hand or other means; the conical valve onlybeing conllt may with plain exterior-surfaces and secure the desired mechanical adjustment thereof, by means of set screws or other devices without rotating the tubes,

but I preferably use the described construction:

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States, is

1. In a hot air heater, a heat iiue or flues extending downwardly from the tire-box to the base of the heater, in combination with an air flue or [lues extending upwardly from the base of the heater to an air space surrounding said fire-box, discharge openings for said heat Iiues and inlets for said air iiues `located at the base of the heater, outlets for the heated air leading from said air space, and a fire-box arranged over said heat and air iiues at the top of the heater, whereby'the incoming air is caused to ascend through gradually increasing temperaturesin contact with the heat flues to a point of highest temperature, while the residue of heat and waste products of combustion are made to descendv through gradually decreasing temperatures to a point of lowest temperature, gradually4 imparting heat to the rising column of' air, substantially as described.

2. A hot air heater comprising a casingV provided with a tire-box at the top thereof, and a hot air chamber said box, in combination with a descending heat Hue communicating with and extending from said fire-box tothe base of the casing .and discharging through an opening at said point, and an ascending air flue extending from the base of the casing to said air cham-- ber and enveloping the heat'tlue, and `suitable airinlet and outlet openings; whereby the rising column of airis gradually heated while approaching the point of highest temperature, while the descending column of heat and volatile products of` combustion within the heat lues is gradually cooled while approaching the point of lowest temperature, substantially as described.

3. A hot air heater comprising a casing, a fire-box located at the top of the casing, an

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partially surrounding l airchamber arranged directly over said {irebox,`aseries otheat iiues extending downwardly from the tire-box and connecting with discharge openings located at the base of the heater, a series of air tlues extending upwardly from said base to said superimposed air chamber and inclosing the heat fines, and suitable air inlet and outlet openings at the base and top, respectively, of the heater, substantially as described,

4. A hot air heater comprising a casing a lire-box located at the top of the casing, a semi-'circular air chamber arranged over said tire-box, a series of heat tlues extending downwardly in a Zig-zag course from said irebox to outlet openings located at the base of the heater, acorresponding series of zig-zag air` iiues extending upwardly from said base -to said air' chamber and inclosing the heat tlues, and suitable air inlet and outlet openings at the base and top of the heater, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the tire-box located at the top of the heater, and the air chamberv above and partially encircling the fire-box, a series of heat iiues extending downwardly in a zig-zag course from the re-box to the base of the heater, and a series of baffle-plates or partitions extending alternately from opposite sides or ends of the heater inclosing casing and terminating a short distance from the oppositewall thereof so as to provide an upwardly extending zig-zag air flue or series of air lines inclosing the heat iues, substantially as described 6. In aheater, the combination with the firebox located at the top thereof, of the downwardly extending heat lues, the upwardly extending air iiues inclosing said heat flues, and a thermostatic regulating device, substantially as described.

7. In a hot air heater, the combination with the-casing inclosing the heat iiues and provided with an air space at the top thereof, of the fire-box partially surrounded by said air space, the air tube supported within said tirebox and communicating with said air space, and a valve for controlling the air supply, substantially as described.

8. In a hot air heater, the combination with the casing inclosing the heat iiues and provided with an air space at the top thereof, of the tire-box partially surrounded by said air space, the air tube supported within said tire-l box and communicating with said air space, a gas pipe extending through-said air tube, and valves for controlling the air and gas supply, substantially as described.

9. A hot air heater comprising essentially a casing composed of side and end plates forming a box-like structure with open topand bottom; one set of plates being provided on their inner sides with return portions or pipe ends; pipe sections inserted in said pipe ends so as to form a zig-zag descending heat iiue or tlues extending from top to bottom `of the casing, bafiie plates between said pipe sections projecting alternately from opposite sides of the casing nearly across the space within the same, so as to form a zig-zag ascending air flue or iues enveloping the heat iues, a top or cover for the casing, and a tire-box within said cover withan intervening air space about and over the tire-box; said air space communicating with said air iiues and said {ire-box communicating with said heat flues; and suitable inlet and discharge openings, substantially as described.

10. A hot air heater comprising essentially a casing composed of side and end plates forming a box-like structure with open top and bottom; one set of plates being provided on their inner sides with return portions or pipe ends; pipe sections inserted in said pipe ends, so as to form a zig-zag descending heat line or lues extending from top to bottom of the casing, baiiie plates between said pipe sections pro'- jecting alternately fromv opposite sides of the casing nearlyacross the space within the same, so as to form a zig-zag ascending air iiue or iiues enveloping the heat tlues, a semi-circular top or cover for the casing, andan arched fire-box within said cover with an intervening semi-circular air space above and partially surrounding the fire-box; said air space communicating with said air iiues and said tire-box communicating with said heat tlues; and suitable inlet and discharge openings, substantially as described.

11. A hot air heater comprising essentially a casing composed of side and end plates forming a box-like structure with, open top and bottom; one set of plates being provided on their inner sides with yreturn portions or pipe ends; pipe sections insertedin said pipeends, so as to form azig-zag descending heat iue or iiues extending from top to bottom of the casing, baffle plates between said pipe sections projecting alternately from opposite sides of the casing nearly across the space within the same, so as to form -a zig-zag ascending air iue or ues enveloping the heat flues, a semi-circular top or cover for the casing, and an arched tire-box within said cover, with an intervening semi-circular air space above and partially surrounding the fire-box; said air space communicating with said air flues and said {ire-box communicating with said heat iiues; an air tube within the tire-box communicating with said air space, and a valve for controllingthe air supply, together with suitable inlet and discharge openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I attix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HECKERT.

' Witnesses:

LAURA A. HECKERT, GEORGE B. CRANE.

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